Scawfell Island to Yeppoon

Sunday, 22 October to Sunday, 29 October 2023

Well the BOM had the wind direction right today but the strength was lacking unfortunately. We sailed for a couple of hours hoping the wind might build but it faded and eventually we started the engine and dropped the sails. We had plenty of company with 10 boats also making their way to Middle Percy Island. It was 63 nm to the calm anchorage in Whites Bay where we dropped anchor as the sun set.

Sunrise at White's Bay

We had another early start to get to Port Clinton. Slightly more breeze today so we managed to sail half the day. Lots of boats anchored inside Perforated Point so we went to the bay to the west. We decided to spend Tuesday here doing a few jobs and getting off the boat for a long walk. You can't leave the beach as the army uses this area for training exercises at certain times and they warn about unexploded ordinances!

Very soft sand made for slow going on the beach

On Wednesday, we finally had enough wind (just) to sail most of the way to Great Keppel Island. We shared the anchorage at Long Beach with about 20 other boats, some heading further south on Thursday while we headed across to Keppel Bay Marina to hide from the next big SE change due on Friday. 

Leaving Port Clinton shows how massive it is

We had 4 nights in the marina, shopping and enjoying the company of the other cruisers here. To counter this, we had 2 long rides on our bikes to the northern beaches and the Pineapple Rail Trail. 2 bonus rides for Warren to the bakery for fresh bread! 

Pineapple Rail Trail

Black cockatoos on the bike path

A Slow Start to the Trip South

Airlie Beach to Scawfell Island

Friday, 13 October to Saturday, 21 October 2023

We started our trip south with a short sail to South Molle Island. We picked up a mooring in Sandy Bay which was a good anchorage in the SE winds. On Saturday we hiked 8.7km to the top of Mt Jeffreys for a fabulous 360 degree view of the Whitsundays. 

View south from the summit at 195m

During our hike, we watched the Australian warship, HMAS Warramunga do laps of the Molle group and Daydream Island. Interesting except when they were still steaming past at 20 knots at 10pm giving off a sizable wash!

Track of HMAS Warramunga

HMAS Warramunga

On Sunday, we sailed to Plantation Bay on Lindeman Island. On Monday, another walk this time to the top of Mt Oldfield - 7.7km. We met the caretaker on the return trip and he told us the resort had been sold again to a Singaporean company who have big plans and hope to start work by the end of the year. Of course, we have heard this before but hopefully this time will see this resort back in business.

Phase2 in Plantation Bay

On Tuesday we sailed to Goldsmith Island to sit out the big SE blow expected. On the way we were pleased to catch our first spotted mackerel of the trip. 

Roylen Bay, Goldsmith Island

We had 3 nights at Goldsmith before the wind eased enough to tack down to Brampton Island. No cruiser likes sailing to windward but we were ready for a change of scenery and with slight seas it was a very pleasant sail. 

Inquisitive Moray Eel checking us out at Brampton Island

On Saturday, we sailed east to Scawfell Island to improve our sailing angle for the expected NE winds on Sunday. So far the forecast northerlies have not appeared and our progress south has been very slow. Let's hope they have it right this time.

Lots of boats waiting at Scawfell for a northerly

Whitsunday Cruising

 Saturday, 23 September to Thursday, 12 October 2023

We were hoping that with the arrival of our youngest son and his family the winds might start to ease but unfortunately this was not the case. We decided to spend another night in the marina and hoped that the easing of the winds expected on Monday would occur. 

Things were slightly better but it was still a double reef in the main for our trip to Happy Bay on Long Island. The anchorage was quite crowded and with the strong winds we decided after lunch to head across the passage to Cid Harbour. A good decision and we spent 2 nights here. Granddad taught our granddaughter how to fish and she then promptly caught a big bream. 

No bites fishing off the back of the boat

Success at Sawmill Beach

With some heavy rain on Tuesday morning, we did puzzles and played Uno, a lot of Uno! On Wednesday we ventured up the Passage to Stonehaven where we picked up a mooring. The gusts were ferocious and our son and daughter-in-law did well to manage a paddle. 

Always gusty at Stonehaven

Calmer on the beach

Our time with the family was coming to an end so we made our way back to Airlie Beach.

Stickers were a good idea until we had to remove them!!

We said goodbye to our family and then stayed another few days in Airlie to watch the Lions battle for the AFL Premiership. Sadly they went down to Collingwood by 4 points in a great game. 

4 of our family at the game including our eldest son Ben

With some nice weather forecast, on Tuesday 3 October we sailed back across the passage to Macona Inlet.  We then motored in light winds across to Cateran Bay on Border Island where we hiked up to the lookout and then had a swim.

Cateran Bay

Lovely calm weather so we then headed down to Whitehaven Beach with a stop at Hill Inlet on the way to catch some bream for dinner. Next day we did another lookout hike, swim to cool off and a beautiful calm night again once all the day trippers had left. 

Ah....the tranquility

On Friday it was back to Cid Harbour as the strong winds had returned. We had 4 nights here before the winds eased and we made our way to Blue Pearl Bay for my first snorkel of the trip. On the way we caught a Big Eye Tuna which we enjoyed for dinner that night. 

First keeper of this trip trolling

Moray Eel top left - I didn't want to get closer

On Wednesday, it was then back to Airlie for the last time this trip - to refuel, re-provision and get ready for the voyage home. 

On to the Whitsundays

Rosslyn Bay to the Whitsundays

Sunday, 17 September to Friday, 22 September 2023

After 9 days, we finally castoff our berth at Keppel Bay Marina at 0615 on Sunday in a strong SSE wind. It had eased a bit from the last few days and we were keen to move on. 

Dawn at Keppel Bay Marina

We set the spinnaker and had a great run all the way to the entrance of Island Head Creek. With winds a steady 15 to 20 knots, we had a fast trip with anchor down by 1345 after 52 nm. Our average speed over ground under spinnaker was a fast, for us, 9.1 knots and we saw 4 whales. 

Seas a bit larger than we like

On Monday we headed off again just after 0600 under main and jib as the wind was above 20 knots. By 0840, the wind was down to 15 to 20 so we hoisted the spinnaker and headed for Curlew Island. We carried it most of the way and anchored at Curlew at 1540 after 65 nm and seeing 5 whales including one right as we entered the bay. 

Curlew is one of our favourite islands but with family joining us on Saturday, we had to keep moving. We departed at 0610 on Tuesday morning for Brampton Island. Just after exiting the bay we saw a whale heading in our direction. A quick tack was required as it wasn't about to alter course for us. Spinnaker run again all day in a lighter 10-15 knot SE wind. As we approached Brampton we reunited with Dawn's Light from the RQ Cruise North group.

The beautiful Whitsunday islands

On Wednesday, we decided to head for Whitehaven Beach to enjoy the light winds of the next few days. Unfortunately these plans quickly changed when Warren discovered a small fuel leak from the port engine fuel filter. A call to our friend Brett in Airlie Beach resulted in him sourcing a replacement and offering to install it. So we altered course and after a night at the underrated Beach 25, we headed to Airlie and tied up at the Coral Sea Marina. Great service from Honest Brett's Diesel Repairs had it all fixed that day!

Friday was washing, cleaning and re-provisioning ready for our youngest son and his family arriving on Saturday.

Into the Tropics

Yellowpatch, Great Keppel Island and Rosslyn Bay

Saturday, 2 September to Saturday, 16 September 2023

We had to wait for the tide to come in to leave Pacific Creek, and then sail the 25nm across the top of Curtis Island to get to Yellowpatch before the tide had dropped too much. Luckily, Warren had some waypoints from a local in Gladstone and we had plenty of water under the keels going in (3.2m on a 2.8m tide). 

Don't enter at low tide!

We anchored before the big orange/yellow sandhill and wondered why it has been 12 years since last we visited. It is a very picturesque spot. 

Beautiful weather

Very protected in SE winds

Unfortunately, our stay was restricted to 2 nights as on Monday the government was closing the northern part of the island for feral animal control. Not wanting to encounter any stray bullets, we headed north for Great Keppel Island just before the 1200 closure.

Beautiful GKI beaches

At Great Keppel Island we caught up with the RQ Cruise North group again. We had perfect weather for our 4 nights anchored at Fisherman's Beach. Walks, kayaking and sundowners ashore filled our days and we were sorry to move on Friday to Rosslyn Bay. 

A large number of cruisers in the bays around GKI

My beach shelter (Mark 2) - still needs some refinements

Leeke's and Svensen's Bays

Our original plan was to stay in the Keppel Bay Marina for only a few days however a very strong south easterly and a chest infection for Warren changed that to 9 days. We enjoyed a couple of dinners with the RQ cruisers and lots of bike rides. 

Dinner at Beaches with RQ Cruisers

One of the best bikeways in Yeppoon

Warren made a new friend

Emu Park Singing Ship has had the volume turned down

Impressive ANZAC memorial at Emu Park

Looking towards the marina from Bluff Point

It was also great to catch up with my cousin Alan who I don't think I've seen since we were kids. 

Now.....

And then... I don't think we've changed much

Gladstone and The Narrows

Pancake Creek to Pacific Creek

Friday, 25 August to Friday, 1 September, 2023

We had a leisurely 0840 start to ensure we entered Gladstone with an incoming tide. A steady SE breeze to start, which went around to the E as we neared Gladstone made for an easy sail. The Gladstone Marina is off Auckland Inlet and after hearing lots of recommendations we decided to spend a week here. 

Gladstone Marina

The marina has a courtesy bus that we used for our reprovisioning and to visit the local art gallery and museum.

Old town hall repurposed as the art gallery

We were pleased to not encounter any magpies on our many bike rides, unlike our last visit which was my main memory of Gladstone! 

Spinnaker Park

Tondoon Botanic Gardens

Large cycad in the botanic gardens

Several RQ boats were already here, and we enjoyed a great dinner with the crew at the Yacht Club. 

Bridge opening on our walk home from dinner

We enjoyed our time in Gladstone however it is an industrial city and and coal dust in a northerly was not at all to Warrens liking!

Coal terminal north of the marina

So on Friday, 1 September we departed the marina for a trip up the inside of Curtis Island - aptly named The Narrows. The first 8 nm is in deep channels past the coal and gas loading wharves. Once clear of these, we motored with the tide towards the shallowest section of the passage. This is the crossover point for the tide and we quickly found ourselves pushing 3+ knots of tide.

2 engines needed to battle the tide

The shallowest section, the cattle crossing, is 2 m high at low tide and must be negotiated after careful calculations to make sure you have enough water. With a 4m tide we had no trouble, but we did breathe a sigh of relief as we got back into deeper water.

Fence shows where they used to drive the cattle across

We spent the night at Pacific Creek, so we could time the tide to Yellowpatch the following day. Lots of midgies and we swung from bank to bank in the wind. Not recommended!

Pacific Creek

Raby Bay to Pancake Creek

 Friday, 11 August to Thursday, 24 August 2023

We departed Raby Bay at 1450 for the short first leg of our trip to the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. 

Great to have the family farewell us

Dinner in the bistro was appreciated after the rush of the last few days and we caught up with fellow sail cruisers from the club. With light wind predicted for Saturday, we headed off expecting to motor most of the 62nm to Mooloolaba. 

Early start from RQYS

We had an 0600 start to take advantage of the early SW winds and favourable tide. We sailed and motor-sailed in light winds until lunch time when the wind went to the NE and strengthened to 10 knots so we could finally turn off the motor. 

Glasshouse Mountains

Tacking close inshore we eventually made it into the Mooloolah River and anchored in the pond at 1645. We saw our first whales of the trip south of Point Cartwright.

Dusk at Mooloolaba

We had northerlies for the next few days so after 2 days anchored where we caught up with last minute boat jobs, we moved to the marina for 2 nights. This made it easier to visit friends, ride our bikes and I even managed a surf.

Leaving Mooloolaba with Meltemi

On Wednesday, with the wind finally in the south, we departed Mooloolaba at 0615 for Fraser Island in company with two other Seawind 1160s, Meltemi and Alibi. We carried our spinnaker all day, dropping it at 1530 to begin our crossing of the Wide Bay Bar. It was a couple of hours after low tide and the bar with the incoming tide was quite benign (my favourite word to describe the WBB). We spent the night at Pelican Bay.

Garry's Anchorage

On Thursday, we motored to Garry's Anchorage to hide from more northerlies. We caught up with Southern Exposure and walked up to Gary Lake to get some exercise.

Walking along the fire trail

On Saturday morning we crossed the Sheridan Flats at high tide and anchored behind Big Woody Island ready for an early start on Sunday to the Burnett River. Another good day for the spinnaker so we were anchored in the river by 1430. 

Dinghy in to buy fresh bread at Burnett Heads

On Monday, we headed for Pancake Creek. Light S, SE winds allowed us to carry the spinnaker until 1340 when we realized that our slow progress would mean an arrival after dark. We decided to motor and got the anchor down just before dark after 12 hours. Pancake Creek is one of our favourite anchorages - with fishing, kayaking and hiking all possible.

Pancake Creek

We managed to do all of these in our 3 days there. 

Warm day for our walk

Iconic Bustard Head Light

Jenny Lind Creek

Well maintained cemetery

Plane taking off from Aircraft Beach

We kayaked from Pancake Creek to Jenny Lind Creek. This is possible at high tide although with neap tides (lower highs) we had to walk about 50 m dragging the kayak through the shallow sections. We made it though and I enjoyed my first fishing for a couple of years. Fresh whiting is certainly hard to beat.

Nice day for a kayak

Creek is wide initially

Caught enough whiting for dinner

LARC from 1770 dropped in after visiting the lighthouse

Not much room as the tide drops

Our route